This article was recently posted on the Biz Community website and should prove to be helpful for your online job hunting journey.
The vast number of online job portals that exist in this day and age has made job hunting easier and more accessible for job seekers. Unfortunately, this increased accessibility has also opened the door for fraudulent ads and scammers hoping to exploit candidates and to defraud them out of money they don’t really have. However, there are numerous safeguards one can follow to stay safe online.
Online job hunting is quite safe, but it’s important to educate yourself about the possible scams that exist. You are not going to get a job offer via an out-of-the-blue email. Companies will want to conduct an interview with you (either telephonically, via Skype or in person before they make any decisions).
If you receive an email from a company saying that they’ve seen your CV online, and want to offer you a position without ever having spoken to you, alarm bells should go off. Steer clear of companies that conduct email-only communication (particularly with disposable email addresses that were created using with “@gmail.com”, @live.co.za”, “@yahoo.com”, “@yahoo.co.za”, “@ymail.com”, “@webmail.co.za”, “@hotmail.com” or other web based e-mail platforms) or who use broken English and spelling mistakes.
1. Google the e-mail address / website address / person’s name or other details given to you:
Although many businessmen and women work from home, you should always be cautious when entering a stranger’s home. Google their address to see if the business premises exist. If the company actually has a large head office in your area, it wouldn’t make sense for them to interview you at a private home. But if they are using a private residence as an office, be sure to take a friend with you and to let others know where you are going. Never agree to conduct an interview in a hotel room. Always research the interviewer to make sure they are affiliated with the organisation they say they are interviewing for.
Never resign your job until you have a formal offer in writing. It should state that you have been offered the position by the company, how much you will earn, what you are hired to do and other important details. Without that offer, you won’t have a leg to stand on if the company should decide to renege on the opportunity.
2. Don’t pay the “employer”:
Reputable employers won’t ask you to pay for uniforms, training, materials or agency fees. No matter how legitimate the offer seems (i.e. paying for a starter kit to start working from home) be aware that this is how fraudulent posters earn their money. Never hand over money to an employer, period.
If a position sounds too good to be true, it may very well be a red flag. If a company offers extremely high pay for a position, or for a candidate with little or no experience, it is likely to be a scam. Be careful of replying to job listings with vague statements of what the job entails. You need to walk into a position knowing what’s expected of you.
Trust your instincts and your gut. They are usually right. Never do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. If you are suspicious about the company or the person interviewing you, walk away.
If you have been the victim of a scam or if you encounter fraudulent or suspicious activity from an employer who is using Job Mail, don’t hesitate to report it to us. E-mail details of the activity that you encounter to our consultant via verifications@jobmail.co.za.
Spread the word about these online job hunting safeguards. Share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Remember: Sharing is caring. You could be the reason that someone doesn’t become a victim of fraud.
Just a reminder that you can upload your CV, browse for jobs and apply for them on Job Mail. If you have any queries about the registration process or if you are experiencing technical issues with our website, feel free to e-mail our Webmaster via jobmaster@jobmail.co.za.
Watch this space for more updates for job seekers on the Job Mail blog.